Mangroves

Leisure dhows going through the mangrove lined channels on the Lamu Archipelago at sunset

The presence of mangrove forests on the East African coast made exploitation of the area lucrative for Arab, Indian and Chinese traders. The mangroves were and still are harvested specifically for poles due to their ability to withstand harsh weather conditions and extended human use. They are well adapted to and grow along the muddy shores of the ocean which means they are at a significant risk of overexploitation due to the ease of harvesting. Mangroves were also removed to give way to other economic activities on the coastline leading in some places to erostion.